The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-04-27

tF.Cm the Washington Si2F.)
J cozy and handsomely furnished
house on 2 street northwest is the home
of lieutenant Emory II. Taunt, of the
United States Navy, the african cxplor-
er. Since 1885, when he was sent to ex-
plorc the region of the Upper Congo
River in Africa, Lieutenant Taunt has
been constantly on the tramp through
the Dark Continent, searching for IN
formation in regard to the country and
its inhabitants. The walls OF the par
lors Of his home il this city are covered
with interesting reminders OF many
thrilling adventures among the blacks,
tn the form Of long, sharp spears, mur-
derous looking knives and various other
implements of warfare and domestic
use.
Not the least important among them
is a long strung Of human teeth, in the
centre OF which is small, roughly
shaped piece Of brass. This is a
fetish, and is supposed by theintense-
" superstitious natives to be 81 infalible
charm against disease, pain or trouble
OF any kind. Another curiosity is a
queerly shaped knife encaGed il curious
looking skin, and having hilt, the end
of which is shaped like mushroom. In
one corner OF the room there stands
long and wide shield Of rattan wood. It
has a history. In different places about
its centre are several bullet holes. The
native who bore it was preparing to kill
Lieutenant Iaunt, who had engaged
him in battle, when bullet from one
OF the lieutenant's followers pierced the
Shield and went through tie body OF the
savage warrior.
Bu: by far tie most Interesting Of all
are the diaries Of LleuteCant Iaunt's
first year in the land Of the blacks. \
Star reporter vas permitted; to read them
the other night. They read like
romances, and are filed with stories of
adventure arc; h,:ir-breadth escapes from
the carn;ba!s.
The domestic habits cs the Congo ne
groes, as related by Mr. Ia"ut, arc often
interesting and mcte~oftcn amusing.
There is :. certain tribe who shavGS their
heads, only leaving snail tufts OF hair.
These TUFTS are arranged IL all sorts OF
fantastic shapes and give to The wearer a
very strange appearance. Then there is
the chief Of great and powerful tribe
in tho vicinity os L@oDoldyille who
makes his beard grow; IL the same man
ner, and il appearance IS 8 Chi2aman's
pig-taj.
The manner Of burial arnong the na-
tives is very peculiar. Upon the death
OF chief tie body is swathed in clothes
until it resembles a hogshead. Then the
head OF the body is shaved clean. The
body is left above ground in this state
until the hair grows out, when the re-
mains are inferred in the ground.
While travelling up the Congo River
il the well known little steamer, the
Henry Reed, when about five days from
the equator, an exciting incident oc-
Cured, OF which 1lr. Iannt says: sat .
.. III. We anchored IN the marrow chan
neI ior the night. MeSsrs. Peterson and
Ellington, with some ten boys, had
started in tila small no&t, ana rs she
reached the shore q large snake, about
eight feet long, sprang into the boat.
There was q shouting and yelling OF
'mioca' (snakel and in five seconds the
snake had entire possession Of the boat.
How to kill him was now the problem.
We could not shoot without injury to
tne boat. But finally, after an exciting
fight OF ten minutes, the snake was dis
patched by one OF she slaves" It was
spotted, black and white. The natives
said that one bite from it was sure death.
Fortunately no one remained IN the boat
long enough after it entered to get bit
ten, ard Lieutenant Taunt had not gone
in the boat, lie having been detained or
the steamer.
Another incident related IL TIE diary
is as follows: The boat had anchored at
a small town By the river. Down on the
bank Of the river a woman and boy
were fishing. Out in the shallow parts
of the river hideous looking crCcodiles
could easily be seen disporting them
selves or Sleeping on the sand bars.
Close to where the woman and boy were
fishing vas I large crocodile who was
quietly, every moment, approaching
nearer and nearer the fishers. Ills small
eyes twinkieli, and every now and then
lie would turn his head slowly from side
to side TO see that he VAS not observed.
Suddenly the people IL tire village heard
q terrible SIlriek. The woman and boy
mad been swept into water by Z stroke
from the tail OF the monster. Then he
seized the body Of the woman, and,
swimming slowly to the opposite bank
he laid it down and returned. .Iean-
while the boy, when he had recovered
from his fright, scrambled out upon the
bank, rot waiting TO yeli or shrek, as
would have been expected OF an Amerl-
can child. He hastened cf up the bank
to where a small canoe was anchored.
Jumping into il, he padded hastily for
the place where the body CT his mother
had bcc1 carried. Reaching it, he put
the body into the boat and started foc
the village. lie had not gone far when
nc hear,; { shout from the village, aud,
looking behind him. saw that nc wes be-
ing pursued by the crocodile who, after
leaving the woman. had gone Oil up the
river and returned Just n time to see his
prey carried of by the canoe. The boy
padded with al MS might and the
crocodile followed as fast as he could,
nor did he stop the pursuit until fright
eucd OF ~ the canoes from the village
carrying acn TO the rescue CT tie boy;
The natives say t.hat this creature will
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